NEWS
Crude Oil Theft: Why Peter Obi’s Allegations Against Nigerian Govt may be True
By Edozie Obasi-Eze
The deafening noise about crude oil theft in Nigeria has gotten to a level where no right-thinking person can continue paying a deaf ear to it.
With individual households carving in under prevalent economic pressure, which is biting hard with stagflation, there’s little doubt that the man on the street is being compelled to ponder what has become of the national wealth.
While those in authority have been quick to point accusing fingers at hoodlums, particularly the natives of the Niger-Delta region, those who know maintain that hydrocarbons are of such nature that they cannot be sneaked out of any part of the world without the authority being culpable.
This much the presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi averred recently.
He also brought it to national consciousness that those behind crude oil theft, having been startled by his posturing that truth must be told are now masterminding his being taken out of circulation.
The elite class would rather that their well-thought-out, and overly played-out narrative, of pointing accusing fingers at criminal elements, especially in the Niger Delta continues to circulate.
But Nigerians appear to have had enough of that and have started going out of their way to share information with the public that buttresses why Mr Obi’s allegations might be true.
In a recent trending video making the rounds on social media, an anonymous vlogger went aboard what he described as “an anonymous vessel” which he categorically averred was capable of loading and lifting up to one million barrels of crude oil.
The male voice in the video described the vessel, as a Very Large Cargo Career (VLCC).
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The man who made or voiced the video appears very familiar with the operations of the oil industry and the security architecture in the sector.
Drawing from inside knowledge, he pinpointed universal vessel tracking standards, which the Navy of sovereign nations deploy to keep all vessels that sail into their territorial waters, for whatever purpose, under the radar.
The trackers, the voice said, aid the Navy in clearly identifying and monitoring vessels up to 1,000 nautical miles from the seaport.
The video showed a piece of equipment, that looked like a clock which he asserted was capable of helping the Nigerian Navy fish out each and every ship sailing into Nigeria’s territorial waters, and have it under the radar, each second of the day.
According to the voice, the Global Positioning System (GPS), Automatic Identification System (AIS) and, Long Range Identification Tracker (LRIT) were all at the disposal of the Nigerian Navy, which reinforces claims in an earlier interview by Obi, that the government officials were behind crude oil theft in Nigeria.
The 2’51” video showed vivid images of a vessel fortified with all the equipment the voice was referring to, to buttress that Obi was right that those, who have been raping the Nigerian economy by lending official channels for crude oil theft were capable of going after the presidential hopeful.
Beaming his camera on the VLCC, he said, “Now, there is no how that a vessel of this magnitude; ship of this size will sail into Nigeria’s territorial waters, load crude oil and sail out undetected, unnoticed.
“And they (the authorities) will be telling the world that nobody knows when the ships sail in, load Nigeria’s crude oil and sail out,” he retorted.
He emphasised that “the moment any ship enters Nigeria’s territorial waters, both the Navy and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) have good enough resources (human and equipment) to notice and bring it under the radar, even before it gets into any form of activities.
“And the authorities would be addressing the people as if they cannot reason anything out.”
It does appear that the increasing outcry has gotten to the authorities, though, as relevant agencies of government have begun responding to the issue.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), on Wednesday went public with a vow to clear the air on the narrative, by getting to the root of the matter, with a probe.
Chief Executive, NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, who personally signed the statement to drive home the importance, vowed that the Commission would investigate the operational and commercial activities of companies licensed to explore and produce crude in Nigeria.
He said, “One of the steps, in line with its (NUPRC) technical and regulatory powers, is to probe into the operational and commercial activities of exploration and production companies operating within the country.
”Komolafe added that the NUPRC would busy itself with determining the level of compliance or otherwise of the oil majors with the terms of their licences.
According to the CE, the main purpose of the probe would be “to ascertain the level of compliance with the terms and conditions in their (oil firms’) operational contracts, as well as the challenges impeding expected deliveries.
“The commission will particularly be interested in the mode of operation of the companies in relation to the approvals as per their operational licences, the level of conformity with the technical provisions and production terms, their level of investments to enhance capacity utilisation, and the challenges they are facing, especially those contributing to the current unacceptable situation.
“Beginning from Wednesday, September 28, the commission will be engaging all the exploration and production companies individually to get to the root of the current situation as it believes strongly that there might be more fundamental issues in the industry affecting expected output and deliveries beyond the much-touted issue of crude theft.
”Biztellers gathered that to demonstrate its seriousness over the matter, the NUPRC had already sent invitations to the identified oil majors to appear before it.
Other voices who have been speaking against crude oil, include elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark.
The Kano State Police Command has warned residents of a potential terror attack, targeting public gatherings in strategic locations across the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed that intelligence reports indicated suspected terrorists were planning to carry out attacks.
“The Kano State Police Command, in liaison with other security agencies, has received intelligence reports of suspected terrorists planning to launch attacks on public gatherings in strategic locations within Kano State.
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“In response, we hereby urge residents to exercise caution and avoid crowded places and environments until further notice as a preventive measure to enable security operatives to identify and dislodge possible attackers,” the statement read.
To address the threat, the police command has enhanced security arrangements across the state. SP Haruna revealed that specialized units, including the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“A team of experts from the command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear units have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“The unit can be contacted through: 08169884988 or 07067157218 for report of suspicious persons or item(s),” Haruna stated.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the command through the designated hotlines.
“The command remains committed to protecting lives and properties as well as maintaining law and order in Kano State.
“We appreciate the support and cooperation of the good people of Kano State and urge everyone to remain vigilant. Your vigilance and cooperation are crucial in ensuring public safety,” the statement concluded.
NEWS
Ifon-Ilobu-Erin Osun Land Disputes: Osun Constitutes A 100-Member Boundary Resolution Committee
In the bid to resolve the incessant land disputes between the communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has constituted an enlarged 100-member high powered land crisis resolution committee in which each of the affected communities has 25 representatives, and the state government represented by 25 members.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi made the disclosure in a statement in Osogbo, on Friday.
He revealed that the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Adetunji Olanipekun Larooye is the Chairman of the Committee, while a retired judge of Osun State Judiciary and Chairman, Osun State Boundary Commission, Justice Moshood Adekunle Adeigbe, would serve as the Co-Chairman.
According to Alimi, Gov Adeleke put in place the Committee with a view to bringing a lasting end to the incessant land disputes among the three affected communities.
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It was gleaned from the statement that there were four other traditional rulers on the panel, including His Royal Majesty; Oba Abioye Oyebode, the Olokuku of Okuku, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adams Iyiola Bamidele Yusuf, the Oloba of Oba Oke, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adekeye Oyedare, the Oloyan of Oyan and His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Ogungbamgbe,The Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesha.
Other members are Umar Abba Mohammed, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ayoola Kehinde, Osun State Director, Department of State Services( DSS) Brigadier General, Aliu Mohammed, Commander E.C.C, Ede, Sotiyobo Igbalawola, Osun State Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps( NSCDC), Anthony Chikezie, Commander, Immigration Service, Osun State, Adekunle Omoyele, Osun State Commander, Amotekun Corps, and Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Security, Barrister Dare Ojo.
Also on the enlarged Committee, where members are enjoined by Gov Adeleke to bring in their wealth of experience to bear on the highly critical assignment, are the Chairman, NBA Osogbo branch, Yemi Abiona, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ikirun, Niyi Akinsola, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ile Ife, Tope Olajoko, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ilesha, Raymond Oki, Esq; Others appointed to serve on the Ifon- Ilobu- Erin Osun Peace Resolution Committee are; Soladoye Abioye, the Surveyor General of Osun State – Dr Sodiq Olohunde, Office of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Marufat Adekemi Bello, Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Justice – Femi Ogundun,- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Govt and Chiertincy Affairs, Dr Fritz Mobolaji Olaoye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.
Completing the list of the Committee members are Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Osun NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Osun Civil Society Coalition and Comrade Saka Mao, a Public Affairs Analyst
The statement has it that Gov Adeleke, will on Tuesday, the 28th of January, 2025 perform the swearing in ceremony of the 100-member enlarged Ifon, Ilobu, Erin Osun Land Crisis Resolution Committee, at the Multi purpose hall of Local Government Service Commission, State Government Secretariat, Abere Osogbo by 11:00am.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Control Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede on indiscriminate parking and traffic gridlock, especially in market areas.
According to a statement in Benin City on Friday, by Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, his principal gave the charge while decorating Ijeghede with his new rank as the head of EDSTMA.
He noted that while addressing the new Managing Director and his personnel at the Exco Chambers in Government House, Gov Okpebholo pointed out that the agency should do its job well by ensuring free flow of traffic across the state.
He called on Ijeghede and men of the agency to ensure they checked indiscriminate parking of vehicles and buses, especially in market areas.
“Edo State belongs to all of us and whatever we are doing, we should do it with care not to harm anybody. I appeal to EDSTMA to ensure that the city is well kept because whenever I drive round town, I see vehicles everywhere as the city is not well kept.
“This is your primary assignment. You should ensure the city is well kept as vehicles park indiscriminately and they are causing obstruction. Traffic is not flowing as it should and it is causing serious gridlock. Is it that you are not doing your job well?
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“Is it that you are not doing your job well or because you have a new leader that is why traffic is not flowing, or because you don’t know your job?
“You people should wake up and keep the state clean. Make sure that vehicles are parked well especially in the market areas. Monitor markets very well as these areas are looking really unkempt with vehicles and buses parked indiscriminately, causing traffic gridlock. Edo people are worst hit. They suffer from this. Ensure free flow of traffic so that the people will be happy,” Governor Okpebholo emphasized.
The EDSTMA boss, thanked Gov Okpebholo for the opportunity to serve the people of Edo State and assured him of the loyalty of the agency.
He added that his men will do their job professionally and ensure that the is free flow of traffic across the state.
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Okpebholo Moves To End Indiscriminate Parking, Gridlock In Edo State
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